Transvestia

but on a hot summer night as she lay naked on her bed, Guntram, a fellow monk, discovered her unex- pectedly and made love to her. When their relation- ship was discovered, both were ordered arrested with a sure sentence of death only a formality. Each managed to make a separate escape but there was no rest for Joan as the thorough agents of Abbe Rabin Maur found out her various mascuerades. She took assorted jobs all over the continent. sometimes as a woman, more often as a man. The stories have her doing many things but all agree on a stay in Athens where her learning astounded everyone and a return to Rome, masquerading as a priest once more. She founded a school in Rome and her studious ways and dignified life attracted much comment at a time when priestly conduct was not what it is today. Indiscr- etions were much easier in those times when priestly celibacy was not yet a Church rule. Eventually the chaste learned priest from Athens was called to the Vatican.

Pope Leo IV held a lively court which must have been quite a shock to Joan. The chambers were filled with ambitious clergymen, soldiers, envoys, and courtiers. Her knowledge of many languages made her so important that on Leo's death, the scholarly priest was chosen to assume the Papal Crown.

Joan became ruler of both the Vatican and the imposing Castel San Angelo, the stronghold built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. She ruled vigorously all during her term. Wholesale executions were not her style but like all rulers of the day she did not hesitate to use torture when questioning a prisoner, and she was brave enough to be present during some of the actual torture. Her dungeons were not ex- ceptionally full for the time, nor were they empty. Her firmness and dignity won even the grudging re- spect of her most severe critics.

No one suspected her sex until Guntram happened to see her in a procession. He managed to get a note

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